“This position reflects our commitment to the bank and credit union
space,” said Gregg
Johnson, executive vice president of branch office development and
acquisitions at Securities America. “There’s no one better for the
position than Jim Norwood. He’s well known and highly respected. He
brings nearly three decades of effective leadership in the financial
services industry.”

Norwood has spent the bulk of his 30-year career working with banks and
credit unions in an executive leadership capacity and played a critical
role in building a significant financial institutions division at one of
the nation’s largest independent brokerage firms. Most recently, he held
the president’s chair at Priority
Financial Group (PFG), which joined Securities America’s independent
brokerage and advisory platform in October.

“Our team is extremely happy to see Jim join Securities
America,” said Mike Prior, PFG’s chief executive officer. “He has a
stellar reputation in the bank and credit union space and truly cares
about his clients. Securities America just made a strong financial
institutions division even better.”

Norwood said he is thrilled to be part of an organization with such a
highly engaged executive leadership team.

“Their vision and mine are the same – to continue our development as the
nation’s premier financial institutions division,” he said.

The financial institution space is a highly competitive segment of the
industry, said Johnson, and Securities America is committed to
delivering all the tools and resources its current 139 financial
institutions need to excel.

“We’re also looking forward to continued growth,” he said. “Jim will add
to the momentum that Securities America has achieved. His experience and
knowledge will help expand our value proposition and enhance the overall
client experience at both the institution and advisor levels.”

About Securities AmericaSecurities
America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial
Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTS PrA), is one of the nation’s
largest independent advisory and brokerage firm with more than 2,200
independent advisors and nearly $72 billion in client assets.